I love cooking. Trying new recipes is also something I love. Seriously, you should see my recipes board on Pinterest. I swear that I will eventually make every recipe on there at least once... Although it will most likely take me quite some time to do so. However, for right now those recipes (well at least most of them) will be on hold until after baby. I'm set to be induced in just 18 days and oh my goodness this time is flying by!
So I tried to think of all the ways to make the transition from married couple to mommy and daddy as easy as possible. The biggest thing for me was to plan out a few meals and freeze them so that I wouldn't be trying to spend a lot of time in the kitchen and get on a schedule with both daddy and baby.
My biggest struggle originally was finding foods that would freeze well and not lose quality. For the longest time the only thing that popped in my brain was lasagna. Seriously there has to be so much more, pregnancy brain sucks! After some serious thinking this is the list I came up with.
Lasagna
Spaghetti Sauce
Taco Meat
Preformed Hamburgers
Preformed Turkey Burgers
Turkey Meatballs
Chicken and Lentil Soup
Ham and Bean Soup
Marinated Chicken Breasts
Orange Chocolate Chip Muffins
Cornbread Muffins
Pancakes
English Muffin Breakfast Sandwiches
Sausage and Egg Breakfast Burritos
The next step was making a shopping list, a very long shopping list. Now all I have to do is go shopping after payday and spend a weekend cooking and packing it. That however will be the next post, instructions and pictures will be included.
What are some meals you make that freeze well?
~Karin
Monday, October 28, 2013
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Buying in bulk
This was the topic of the day today with me and a few ladies on Facebook. Oddly enough we all had the same idea, buying in bulk. It's strange how I can suggest something I don't even do right? Well, don't do any more that is. So I have decided to talk to hubby about getting a Costco membership so that we can start doing this. It seems like it would definitely be advantageous to us, even if it is just going to be 3 of us. I mean why not start things early.
I've started thinking of all the things that we already buy that we could buy in bulk and save money. Some of the things I am hoping to get (we'll really have to see what they have when we get there) would be pasta, rice, meats, salad dressings, eggs, and peanut butter. I'm sure there will definitely be more that comes to mind later or even once we get the membership but this is a starting point.
I found this list online of good things to buy in bulk:
~Karin
I've started thinking of all the things that we already buy that we could buy in bulk and save money. Some of the things I am hoping to get (we'll really have to see what they have when we get there) would be pasta, rice, meats, salad dressings, eggs, and peanut butter. I'm sure there will definitely be more that comes to mind later or even once we get the membership but this is a starting point.
I found this list online of good things to buy in bulk:
- In season vegetables (preserve or freeze for the colder months)
- Rice
- Soft grains and legumes (lentils, barley, quinoa, millet, rolled oats)
- Canned and dry beans
- Dried fruit
- Pasta
- Alcohol
- Canned tomatoes
~Karin
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
MIA
Sorry I have been MIA in the last few months but this pregnancy has taken its toll on me. I have dealt with so much that I am ready for November and for our little girl to finally be here.
The one thing that has definitely taken the biggest toll on me was being diagnosed with gestational diabetes. For days, heck maybe even weeks, I beat myself up thinking I had done something wrong. It took me a little while to look at this as a blessing in disguise. I am finally eating healthier and exercising more than I was in my first two trimesters. I have actually lost a little weight. However eating with GD is not easy. I am not a creature of habit, I love variety and that is difficult to do with GD. It is also a lot of trial and error, you find what works for you.
I think breakfast is the hardest for me because I love breakfast, think french toast, pancakes, waffles, biscuits and gravy... Mmm making myself hungry! However, breakfast nearly every day includes eggs, eggs, and more eggs. I mean there is nothing wrong with eggs but I really need to figure out some other type of protein for breakfast. Lunch and dinner are easy. Heck most of the time I have a hard time eating enough carbs at those meals.
On a bright note I won't be waiting and waiting for LO to make her appearance. I already know due to the GD I will be induced at 39 weeks if she doesn't decide to come early. So I am in serious nesting mode. The nursery is 90% done which makes me so happy but there is still so much to do. I am planning on doing a lot of freezer meals for after baby gets here but that will be another post in and of it self. I hope everyone has been doing well and I'll try to get better about posting on a schedule but there will be a newborn soon so we'll see.
~Karin
The one thing that has definitely taken the biggest toll on me was being diagnosed with gestational diabetes. For days, heck maybe even weeks, I beat myself up thinking I had done something wrong. It took me a little while to look at this as a blessing in disguise. I am finally eating healthier and exercising more than I was in my first two trimesters. I have actually lost a little weight. However eating with GD is not easy. I am not a creature of habit, I love variety and that is difficult to do with GD. It is also a lot of trial and error, you find what works for you.
I think breakfast is the hardest for me because I love breakfast, think french toast, pancakes, waffles, biscuits and gravy... Mmm making myself hungry! However, breakfast nearly every day includes eggs, eggs, and more eggs. I mean there is nothing wrong with eggs but I really need to figure out some other type of protein for breakfast. Lunch and dinner are easy. Heck most of the time I have a hard time eating enough carbs at those meals.
On a bright note I won't be waiting and waiting for LO to make her appearance. I already know due to the GD I will be induced at 39 weeks if she doesn't decide to come early. So I am in serious nesting mode. The nursery is 90% done which makes me so happy but there is still so much to do. I am planning on doing a lot of freezer meals for after baby gets here but that will be another post in and of it self. I hope everyone has been doing well and I'll try to get better about posting on a schedule but there will be a newborn soon so we'll see.
~Karin
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Homemade Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer
I love coffee, I mean like really love it. Having to limit how much I drink since I got pregnant has been a little difficult but I'll do whatever I need to do to make sure our little girl is healthy. I am however not one of those people who can drink coffee black like DH. He teases me constantly asking if I want a little coffee with my cream and sugar.... what can I say I have a major sweet tooth!
For as long as I can remember I have been spending tons of money on those fancy flavored coffee creamers. Oh and heaven forbid they come out with a new flavor that I simply "have to try"! I happened to be perusing Pinterest (like I normally do because I am addicted!) and I also happened to be out of coffee creamer. Well I can across this recipe here and had all the ingredients on hand. This is a great base recipe that you can tweak however you choose.
Homemade Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer
14 oz sweetened condensed milk
14 oz milk (any kind)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Combine all ingredients in a shaker cup (the kind you use for protein shakes) or mason jar and shake vigorously until combined. It is as simple as that, who would have thought!
*I have also done this with 1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla and 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract and it is just as delish!
I'll try to add some pictures the next time I make creamer. Hopefully you will try this as well and love it as much as I do :)
~Karin
For as long as I can remember I have been spending tons of money on those fancy flavored coffee creamers. Oh and heaven forbid they come out with a new flavor that I simply "have to try"! I happened to be perusing Pinterest (like I normally do because I am addicted!) and I also happened to be out of coffee creamer. Well I can across this recipe here and had all the ingredients on hand. This is a great base recipe that you can tweak however you choose.
Homemade Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer
14 oz sweetened condensed milk
14 oz milk (any kind)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Combine all ingredients in a shaker cup (the kind you use for protein shakes) or mason jar and shake vigorously until combined. It is as simple as that, who would have thought!
*I have also done this with 1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla and 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract and it is just as delish!
I'll try to add some pictures the next time I make creamer. Hopefully you will try this as well and love it as much as I do :)
~Karin
Thursday, August 8, 2013
The Start of Something New
I’ve been meaning to start this little blog of mine for quite some time and
just never really got going on it. I really don’t know where this little blog
will go but I’m sure it will cover just about every facet of my life. I guess
this first post will sort of just introduce me. I’m still a newlywed, DH and I
were married August 18, 2012 and I’m a soon to be first time mama (we are due
November 22 with our little munchkin). I love working out though I don’t get to
do it as much as I would like. I love to cook and bake and hope that once I get
things going I will be able to post a lot of pictures as well as recipes. I
just started couponing; I’m definitely not very good at it and only remember to
do it at times which is probably part of the reason why. I suppose I’ll stop
the introductions there and hope you’ll learn much more about me as the little
blog progresses.
~Karin
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)